The Devil In Disguise

Dresses and Distractions

The next afternoon, Gianina, Mary, and Jordan walked into the boutique, the soft chime of the doorbell signaling their arrival. The store was quiet, save for the gentle hum of music playing over the speakers and the occasional rustling of fabric as other shoppers moved through the racks. The atmosphere was a world away from the heavy tension that had been following them around lately, and Gianina couldn't help but feel a small sense of relief as they stepped into the bright, well-lit space.

All night Gianina had been thinking about that kiss. She knew it meant nothing but she felt wrong and almost guilty. She felt guilty that she enjoyed kissing someone besides her boyfriend. Guilty as the guy whose lips she couldn't stop thinking about belonged to her best friend. Gianina would never do anything with her friend's boyfriend but couldn't help but be upset that Cal had kissed her like that. 

"Alright, ladies," Jordan said, her voice filled with forced enthusiasm as she clapped her hands together. "We're here to find the perfect dresses for my Halloween Masquerade Ball. And for the next hour, we're not thinking about... you know."

Gianina smiled softly at Jordan's attempt to lift everyone's spirits, but it was clear the weight of recent events was still lingering. Still, she appreciated the distraction. They all needed it, especially Mary, who had been quieter than usual, her face still drawn with grief. Even though they had a good time last night she was still heartbroken. The dress shop's warm lighting and playful atmosphere were a far cry from the darkness they had been living in for the past few weeks.

"I don't know how you're doing this," Mary muttered as she shuffled through a rack of dresses. "Planning a party after everything."

Jordan gave a soft laugh, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "What else am I supposed to do? The party's been planned for months. If I canceled, Destiny would come back and haunt me."

Gianina saw a small flicker of a smile cross Mary's lips at the mention of Destiny, though it was brief. She hoped that being here, surrounded by bright colors and elegant dresses, might give Mary a moment of normalcy—just something to take her mind off of the grief, even for a little while.

"So," Jordan said, turning to the nearest rack of dresses, "we need to find something killer for all of us. Pun intended."

Gianina raised an eyebrow, giving Jordan a teasing look. "Too soon, maybe?"

Jordan winced, shaking her head. "Yeah, sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood."

They moved through the shop, each of them scanning the racks of dresses, fingers brushing over the fabrics, as they lost themselves in the moment. Gianina found herself drawn to a section of black dresses, the silky, dark fabrics catching her eye. She had always loved the elegance of black—it was timeless, chic, and for this particular occasion, it felt fitting.

As she thumbed through the hangers, a dress caught her attention—a long, silky cocktail dress with a sweetheart neckline and delicate spaghetti straps. It was simple yet stunning, the kind of dress that made a statement without being over the top. The fabric shimmered slightly under the light, and Gianina could already imagine how it would flow when she walked.

"This one," she murmured to herself, pulling the dress off the rack.

Jordan appeared beside her, her eyes lighting up as she saw the dress. "Oh my God, G, that's perfect! It's like... sleek and mysterious, but still sexy."

Gianina laughed softly, holding the dress up to her. "You think so?"

"Definitely," Jordan said with a grin. "You'll be the star of the masquerade for sure."

"I don't know about that," Gianina replied, glancing at herself in the nearby mirror. "But it's perfect for the night."

Jordan beamed at her, the excitement of finding a great dress pulling her out of the somber mood they had all been in earlier. "Now we just need to find a mask to go with it."

Gianina nodded and followed Jordan to the accessory section of the shop, where they found an array of lacey masks, feathers, and gems. Her fingers paused on a black lace mask, its intricate design catching her eye. It was delicate yet striking, a perfect complement to the dress.

"This one," she said, picking it up and holding it to her face.

Jordan nodded in approval. "Now that's a look. You'll be the mysterious beauty of the ball."

Gianina smiled, feeling a spark of excitement as she imagined the masquerade ball. For the first time in what felt like forever, she was looking forward to something—something that wasn't wrapped in fear and grief.

As she turned to show Mary, she noticed her friend still standing by a rack of dresses, her fingers barely touching the fabric, her eyes distant.

"Mary," Gianina said softly, walking over to her. "You alright?"

Mary blinked, pulling herself out of her thoughts as she looked at Gianina. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... I don't know. I don't really feel like shopping, I guess."

Gianina's heart ached for her. She knew this was hard—harder than anything they had ever faced—but she wanted to help Mary find some kind of solace, some kind of distraction from the weight of everything that had happened.

"Why don't we find something for you?" Gianina suggested, her voice gentle. "Something fun. Something that Destiny would have loved."

Mary hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. She would've loved this."

Together, they moved through the store, Jordan occasionally popping up with wild suggestions—some of which were so over the top that they managed to pull a laugh from Mary, however small. It was the first time in days that Mary seemed even remotely like herself, and Gianina clung to that spark of hope.

After some time, they found a deep green velvet dress with long sleeves and a plunging neckline that seemed to light up Mary's pale features. Jordan clapped her hands in excitement when she saw it, insisting that it was the perfect dress.

"Destiny would've loved this," Mary said quietly, her fingers brushing over the soft fabric.

Gianina smiled softly, placing a hand on Mary's shoulder. "You're going to look amazing, Mare."

Mary gave a small smile in return, though the sadness in her eyes didn't fully fade. But at least she was trying—at least she was here.

They made their way to the checkout counter, their arms full of dresses, masks, and accessories. Jordan, as usual, had gone for something dramatic—a bright red gown with an equally bold mask to match. It was loud and vibrant, just like her. Gianina couldn't help but admire how Jordan always seemed to know how to light up a room, even when things were dark.

As they paid for their dresses, the weight of reality started to creep back in. The party was only a few days away, and while it would be a distraction, they all knew that the darkness surrounding Destiny and Jamie's deaths would be lurking in the background. The killer was still out there, and no amount of shopping or parties could make them forget that.

But for now, as they left the boutique, giggling over the ridiculous feathered masks Jordan had found in the clearance bin, they allowed themselves to feel a little lighter. They had each other, and maybe, just maybe, that was enough to get them through.

For now.